At Kiva, the community isn't separate from the organization. The community is the organization. So this report summarizes our collective achievements last year. In 2012, we strived together to alleviate poverty in some of the hardest areas to reach in the world, and to create opportunity close to home. We're happy to report that we're making progress, although we're just beginning.

The spread of information technology opens up a world of opportunity for Kiva. Last year, we initiated a number of new partnerships: we partnered with schools, green energy providers, artisan co-ops and more. We're pleasantly surprised by the reaction of our lenders who rapidly funded these new loans, helping us grow our loan volume by 25% as we innovate.

Another innovation worth noting is Kiva Zip, an effort to lend directly to entrepreneurs through mobile money and electronic payments. Relying on a network of 'trustees' who endorse borrowers based on their character, Zip transfers funds instantly at 0% interest. So far, so good. Zip just crossed the $1 million mark while maintaining an 85%+ repayment rate, but we'll continue to experiment and we hope you'll join us.

On behalf of the 1 million+ Kiva borrowers around the world, we want to say thank you for being part of this journey.

Tsetsegmaa | Mongolia

A new mother, Tsetsegmaa lives in a traditional Mongolian yurt and sells yogurt and milk from her two cows. She used her loan to buy better livestock feed, and plans to grow her herd soon. (Photo: Jon Hiebert)

ManasIndia

Manas, 24, is a young husband and father of a 1-year-old daughter. Today, he lives with his parents, but is quickly growing his idol carving business. He used his loan to buy inventory storage and raw materials. (Photo: Rachael Caine)

Aurora | Mexico

Aurora is a member of the Laz Cazuelitas borrower group through VisionFund Mexico. She used her portion of the group’s Kiva loan to buy clay, glaze and firewood for her ceramics business. (Photo: Emmanuel von Arx)

Anastazia | Tanzania

The mother of 3, Anastazia sells goods 12 hours a day to bring in $80 a month. Her dream is to keep her children in school and save enough money to build a house. (Photo: Marion Walls)

Margarita | Philippines

Margarita is a seasoned fisherwoman, having worked in the industry for 10 years. She used her Kiva loan to buy new nets and hooks, but also to pay school fees for her children. (Photo: Jamie Greenthal)

Entrepreneurs du Monde | Burkina Faso

Entrepreneurs du Monde is using loans to accelerate adoption of clean-burning, metal cookstoves. These alternatives to indoor fires save on expensive fuel costs and help prevent respiratory diseases and burns. (Photo: Diana Biggs)

Alberta | Guatemala

Alberta makes her living selling traditional woven garments worn on special occasions like weddings and Quinceañera celebrations. She used her loan to buy more supplies and boost her inventory. (Photo: David Gorgani)

Gudelia | El Salvador

Proud mother of four, Gudelia has been selling seafood at her local market, but only stocks the best. She took out a Kiva loan to buy fresh fish whenever it’s available to boost her family’s income. (Photo: Juan Barbed)

Rural Village | Honduras

In Honduras, many Kiva borrowers live in villages so remote that loan officers drive up to four hours to meet with them. Kiva is fortunate to work with partners that prioritize financial access for the poor. (Photo: Wesley Schrock)

Paugata | Samoa

At age 74, Paugata owns and runs her own business making and selling hand-woven products. After being turned away by traditional banks four times, she got a Kiva loan to buy materials and grow sales. (Photo: Adria Orr)

Juan Carlos | El Salvador

A $750 Kiva loan was the kickstart Juan Carlos needed to buy a new bicycle -- a major upgrade for his bread delivery business. (Photo: Juan Barbed)

Santilata | India

Santilata struggles with physical disability, but hasn’t let it prevent her from building a strong business making terracotta sculptures. Her loan put her on track to own her own shop and employ other local workers. (Photo: Suneetha Kanchustambham)

Clorinda | Peru

For 13 years, Clorinda has farmed guinea pigs as the breadwinner of her family. She’s also very active in her local village bank, working with other rural women taking out loans. (Photo: Carrie Nguyen)

Alice | Uganda

Alice used her Kiva loan to buy baby chicks, which she sold full-grown at a good price. Her profit enabled her to buy a couple apartments that she now rents out to support her family of 5. (Photo: Jon Hiebert)

Odisha, India

In Odisha, one of India’s poorest states, women often spend hours of their day collecting firewood for heat and cooking fuel. Kiva works with two partners to offer loans in this region. (Photo: Irene Fung)

Merlinda | Phillipines

Merlinda was widowed years ago, leaving her to support her family. After 7 loans through partner NWTF, she’s built a solid living selling sundries and farming sugarcane. Her new goal is to start saving. (Photo: Jamie Greenthal)

Yacine | Senegal

Yacine is a 60-year-old mother of six who buys millet to turn into couscous for sale at market. She used her loan to diversify into fruit, boosting her profit and helping her support her children. (Photo: David Suk)

Aisulu | Kyrgyzstan

Aisulu and her husband (pictured), now in their 70s, have been raising livestock for 30 years. They used their loan to add to their herd of cows and sheep and boost their monthly income from milk sales. (Photo: Jacob Schultz)

Dar Salaam Bus Depot | Tanzania

In Tanzania, almost everyone takes buses, sometimes several hours into rural surrounding areas. It’s one way remote Kiva borrowers make it into the city to take out and repay loans. (Photo: Marion Walls)

Guadalupe | Mexico

Not only does Guadalupe run her own flower pot business and lead the Las Cazuelitas borrower group, she’s also raising four daughters. All of them are in school, and the oldest, Rosalia, is in college. (Photo: Emmanuel von Arx)

Adela | El Salvador

At 68, Adela has worked hard her whole life selling produce and dairy products door to door, and raising 6 children. Now, though, all she wants is a new roof to stay dry during the winter. (Photo: Juan Barbed)

Lending through Kiva involves risk of principal loss. Kiva does not guarantee repayment nor do we offer a financial return on your loan.